Bowling ball retarder



Dec. 29, 1942. R; J. KARBUSKY 2,306,955

BOWLING BALL RETARDER I Filed May 51, 1941 :5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 29, 1942 BOWLING BALL RETARDER Roman J. Karbusky, Milwaukee, Wis, assignor to William C. Reif and Charles H. Rose, a copartnership, doing business under the name of Sure Strike Company, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application May 31, 1941, Serial No. 396,037

2- Claims.

This invention relates to a bowling ball retarder for use in controlling the speed of bowling balls as they travel onto the pick-up rack at the bowlers end of the bowling alley.

This application is a continuation in part of the application of Roman J. Karbusky, Ser, No. 329,241, filed April 12, 1940, for Bowling ball retarders.

An object of the invention is to provide a bowling' ball retarder which will momentarily and completely stop the ball as it comes into the retarder from the return and then permit it to roll gently onto the pick-up rack. 7

Another object, of the invention is to provide a bowling ball retarder which regulates the speed. at which the ball will travel onto the pick-up rack and yet retain the ball in the retarder for a minimum lengthof time, thereby avoiding the possibility of the ball being struck by a succeeding ball coming down the return.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bowling ball retarder of this character,

which is simple, compact, and closely organized in its construction, attractive and ornamental in appearance, reliable and effective in operation, and easy and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and install.

partly in cross section (the cross section line meanderingirom the central axis in places for the purpose of illustration) of a bowling ball retarder embodying the present invention and showing the parts in the reposed position prior to being engaged by a bowling ball;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in cross section (the section line meandering as in Figure 1) of a bowling ball retarder embodying the invention, with the parts shown in the position caused by the passage of the ball through the retarder at the time the ball leaves the retarder; and

Figure 3 is a view in cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

' Referring in greater detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 designates the section of the return which slopes downwardly from the top of the 'riser portion of the return to the pick-up rack 1. 5

The section 5 is inclined upwardly from the rack 1 approximately five degrees. This incline has been found to be suflicient to impart tothe ball (through the effect of gravity) enough force to cause the ball to proceed from a dead stop in the retarder out onto the rack l at 'a gentle speed which will avoid possible injury to balls or to users. It is to be understood that when the balls are returned they roll up a riser (not shown) which greatly reduces their speed,'and thence to the section 5. A dead storage rack 8 may be employed below the pick-up rack 1. It is to be understood that the Words return and rack refer to the usual parallel rails known to those skilled in the art. These rails are spaced a sufiicient distance to securely guide the -ball.- 'The rails may be faced with composition inserts which tend to provide a smoother runway and deade'n the sound.

The retarder, which is positioned between the riser and the pick-up rack l, comprises a framelike casting, designated generally at iii. The casting has a pair of standards or uprights II. The uprights H are disposed onopposite sides of the section 5 and pick-up rack l, Approximately midwaybetween thetop and bottom of the uprights they are joined by a supporting web l2 integrally formed therewith. Each upright member I! is provided at its lower end with an outturned flange or foot 63 by which the retarder may be securely fastened to the fioor by lag screws or other fastening means It. Above the Web l2v each upright has outwardly bowed sections I 5 to afford the clearancenecessary for the bowling ball to pass between the uprights when rolling section 5 onto pick-up rack l. The uprights I l are joined together by a top piece, designated generally as it. The top piece l6 comprises a flat horizontal portion IT, a curved wall portion 20, and anupwardly inclined portion [9 which joins the fiat portion E1 to the curved wall. portion 20f All of these portions extend between and are. integral with the uprights "II. The flat portion 1] is provided with centrally located slot It to accommodate the dashpot mechanism as hereinafter described. A cross member 2| having a lateral projection 22 extends between the upright members i l at their lower ends. This serves to strengthen the casting and provides a support for a rubber block 23 which may be positioned on the end of projection 22 to provide an abutment for balls restin on the storage rack 8.

In order to aid in maintaining an angle of approximately five degrees between the horizontal pick-up rack I and the downwardly sloping section of the return 5, the web 12 is cast so that a large portion thereof is inclined at approximately five degrees to the horizontal. The rails comprising the section 5 may be bolted or otherwise secured on the web l2 by means of lag screws 24 passing through the uprights II. The rails comprising the pick-up rack 1 may likewise be secured to the horizontal portion of the Web l2.

The control of the speed of the ball as it passes onto the rack 1 is accomplished by first momentarily and completely stopping the ball and then permitting it to proceed under the force-0f gravity down the five degree incline onto the rack I. To effectuate the momentary complete stop, there is provided a brake or shoe, designated generally at 26, and an associated dashpct, designated generally at 21. The brake shoe has an enlarged portion at one end which is provided with. an. aperture accommodating a pivot 28. The pivot 28. is supported in bearings 29 formed integrally with the uprights H and. the wall portion 20. The bearings 29 arepositionedjustbelow the-upwardly inclined end of portion l9 and are spaced from each other to receive therebetween the enlarged pivot end of the shoe 26. The bearings 29 are apertured to receivethe pivot 28. The pivot may be in the form of a bolt provided with a head and secured in place by a nut. However, it is to beunderstood that it may be held in place within the. bearings 23 by set screws or other fastening means. The shoe 28 beyond the enlarged pivoted end hasa. thickened portion extending substantially the length thereof. To the underside ofthis thickened portion there is secured a leather cushioning pad 30. The pad 30 is adapted to en age with the surface of the ball without injuring-it. Between the-leather and the shoe 26 there may be inserted a layer of sponge rubber (not shown) to absorb some of the shock resulting from engagement between the shoe and the ball. One end of the leather pad 30 is secured to the shoe between the enlarged apertured portion and the thickened portion by means of screwsor other fastening devices. The other end ofthe leather pad 30 is carried around the free end of the shoe 26 and is secured'to thetop thereof by means of screwsor other. fastening devices. The lower surface of the shoe may be slightly concaved. to more closely conform the shape of the pad 30-to the surface of a standard ball. This insures a larger engaging surface between the ball and the. leather. On top of the shoe 28 there is provided an upwardly projecting fin 3| which has an aperture therethrough. This fin forms abearing for a connecting rod.

The dashpct 21 comprises a. cylinder 32 and a piston 33. The lower end of the cylinder is open and is provided with integrally formed, laterally projecting feet 34- which are. apertured to, receive bolts 35. The cylinder 32. fitsfiushly on the flat horizontal portion ll, with. its open. end facing downwardly. The bolts 35are screwed into'the flat horizontal portion [1 .to hold thecylinder in place. The cylinder straddles in part the. slot l8 formed in the flat horizontal portion IT. The upper end of the cylinder 32 isformed with an integral head 36. A fillet 31 is formed on the head to accommodate a. bore to receive the threaded end of the regulating valve 38. A screw adjustment is provided in the end of this valve to the adjusting screw of they regulating valve 33. The cylinder wall, at a point adjacent the head 36 and ninety degrees from the regulating valve 38, is drilled and tapped to receive the valve stem and valve comprising the check valve 39. This valve may be identical with the type of valve stem and valve customarily used with bicycle tires and the like.

The piston 33 is a hollow cylindrical member. Depending from its head and within the walls or skirt are spaced webs 40 which are apertured to receive a wrist pin 4|. At its lower end the piston is open. Located centrally on the top surface of the head of the piston is a small, conicalshaped abutment 42. This abutment is designed to. engage with the top of the cylinder 32 to prevent the piston from engaging r interfering with the stem of the check valve 39 which would prevent the proper operation of the dashpct. The lower edges of the piston rest on the upper surface-of the, fiat horizontal portion. l1. todeterminethe; bottom travel of the piston 33 inthe cylinder 32, or its normal atrest position illustrated in Figure 1.

A connecting rod 43 has one end fitted in between the webs 40 of the. piston 33. This end is apertured to receive the wrist pin 4|. The other end of the connecting rod is jaw-shaped. The jaws are apertured to receive a pinv 44 which connects the connecting rod 43 to the fin 3| of the shoe 26. The connecting rodv 43 operates within the confines of the slot I8 provided in the flat horizontal portion l! of the top piece IS.

A cover member C fits onthetop piece 16 and covers the dashpct 21-. A strap 46, extending over the. cover member and projecting over the curved wall portion 20, may be screwed. to the wall portion to. hold the cover. Gin position.

It hasbeen found'that if theshoe 26. when in its at rest position, as shown in Figure 1, has an angle of inclination of approximately thirty degrees to the horizontal, an effective transfer of force between the ball and the shoe will take place upon engagement therebetween. For most advantageous results the pivot 28 of the shoe 26 should be positioned substantially closeto the top of the path of travel of the ball as it passes thereunder. It is also desirable to. have the ballengage the shoe at a point which is removed from the pivot 28 approximately the same, distance asv is the axis of the pin 44. In addition, the length of the shoe 26 from the point of' first contact with the ball to the end thereof, must be enough so that with the pivot 28, and the pivot 44 positioned as described, the shoe 26 will pivot as the ball passes thereunder an amount sufficient. to. move the piston 33 substantiallyin excess: of fifty per cent of its permissible: upward travel within. the cylinder-32. With this relationship of. the parts, the ball upon striking the shoe 2.6;causesarapidly increasing compression in theflolashpot. 211' which will beenough to momentarily; and completely stop the ball shortlyafter it engages'with the shoe. Thereafter gravity'actingupon the ball as itrests upon the downwardly inclined section 5"wil1' cause it to start to move and renew the upward swinging of the shoe 26 until it is released from thereunder, as shown in the position of" parts illustrated in Figure 2.

The speed at which the ballipasses through the retarder depends upon the adjustment of. the regulating valve 38. This valve. isregulated so that the momentarily complete stop occurs when the ball has traveled about closev to one-half. of its total travel in contact with they shoe- The amount of time consumed by the ball in passing through the retarder after it has been completely stopped is lessened as the regulating valve is opened. In any event, the speed of the ball as it leaves the retarder in every instance is bound to be slow enough to prevent injury to the ball and user.

As soon as the ball passes from under the shoe 26, as illustrated in Figure 2, the shoe 26 rapidly returns to its operative position, as shown in Figure 1. The check valve 39 permits air to enter into the cylinder 32, preventing any rarefioation above the piston and permitting the piston to freely and rapidly move downwardly in the cylinder.

Although there is shown and described a certain specific embodiment of the invention, many modifications thereof are possible. The invention is not to be restricted except in so far as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a, ball retarder a brake shoe, means for pivotally mounting said shoe above an inclined runway with one end thereof disposed in the path of balls rolling along said runway, a pneumatic dashpot including a piston, means for mounting said dashpot above said shoe, means connecting said piston to said shoe at substantially the point of contact thereof with a ball on said runway, and adjustable means for controlling the egress of air from said dashpot when said shoe is struck by a ball, said control means being adjusts in relation to the capacity of said dashpot, the throw of said shoe, and the normal speed of a ball on said runway to completely but momentarily stop a ball before the shoe moves sufiiciently to allow the ball to pass between it and said runway under the influence of gravity.

2. In a ball retarder, a brake shoe, means for pivotally mounting said shoe above an inclined runway with one end thereof disposed in the path of travel of balls rolling along said runway, said pivotal mounting means being located close to, but above the path of travel of a ball on said runway, a pneumatic dashpot including an upwardly movable piston, means for mounting said dashpot above said shoe, means connecting said piston to said shoe at substantially the point of contact thereof with a ball on said runway and between the free end of the shoe and the pivotal mounting thereof, and adjustable means for controlling the egress of air from said dashpot as the piston moves upwardly therein when the shoe is struck by a ball, said control means being adjusted in relation to the capacity of said dashpot, the throw of said shoe and the normal speed of the ball on said runway to completely but momentarily stop a ball before the shoe moves sufiiciently to allow the ball to pass between it and the runway under the influence of gravity.

ROMAN J. KARBUSKY. 

